Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Visiting the Eau d'heure lakes

This past weekend, I visited the Eau d'heure lakes in Belgium as part of a press trip. Though the lakes are situated in my own country, I had never heard of them prior to this trip. Yet, with its five lakes and 600 hectares of national park, it's one of Belgium's most beautiful places of interest. The reason the Eau d'heure lakes are not well known, is that the area has only just recently seen a steep rise in tourist attractions. Hotels, seminar rooms, holiday villages, and recreational activities pop up at a rapid pace thanks to the support of the local and European authorities. During the press trip, I had to opportunity to try out some activities at L'eau d'heure. Here's an overview:

Recreational activities at the Eau d'heure lakes

Aqua GolfThe Plate Taille lake is the only place in Europe where you can play Aqua Golf. Contrary to a normal game of golf, the player has to get the balls onto floating islands. Great fun.

Crocodile RougeCrocodile Rouge prides itself on being a bus that can drive on land as well as on water. Only nine of these vehicles exist. The Crocodile Rouge took me on a trip on the Plate Taille lake, but I'd say it's more for kids than for adults. You can find more pictures of and info about Crocodile Rouge here.

Natura ParcIf you're adventurous, you may want to do a climbing trail at Natura Parc. There are different tracks and levels. The "erolienne" trail is a must as the giant rope slides will take you over the Plate Taille lake for a magnificent view. During the summer, Natura Parc organizes a night-time climbing experience, coupled with a BBQ. How awesome is that! You can find more information about the Natura Parc here.

Hiking and bikingThe majority of the tourists go to the lakes to hike and bike. I explored the banks of the Plate Taille lake by foot and soaked up Belgian nature at its best.

Barrage de la Plate TailleBelgium biggest dam, the Barrage de la Plate Taille, is the only one whose interiors can be visited. I discovered its underground corridors, its turbine pumps, and enjoyed a 360° panoramic view from 107 meters high. A guide taught me about the history of the lakes and the dam's past and current uses.

Aqua CentreNo holiday is complete without a visit to a swimming pool, right? The Aqua Centre of the Eau d'Heure Lakes has recently been renovated and has a slide and spray park for the kids and a wellness centre for the adults.

KayakEver since my childhood trips to the Ardennes, I have loved kayaking. The Eau d'heure lakes lend themselves perfectly to unwind once more on the water and to revel in the beauty of the surrounding shores.

Where did I sleep?

I spent the night at Golden Lakes Village, a holiday resort with newly constructed holiday homes surrounded by water and greenery. The holiday homes of Golden Lakes Village belong to private investors. They have the opportunity to purchase completely furnished houses without paying VAT. Golden Lakes then rents out the homes for them. A great idea, don't you think? What I loved most about the Golden Lakes Village homes? Their comfort and large balconies that lend themselves perfectly for apéritifs and breakfasts in the sunshine. You can find more information about the Golden Lakes Village here or reserve your stay here.

Where did I eat?

Croco BBQ

Croco BBQ offers basic food such as toasted sandwiches and all-you-can-eat BBQ. Its terrace overlooks the lake and the dam.

Tri MarrantsTri Marrants is the place to be for quality food. Meat lovers will love the giant portions, but the cook also does his utmost to please vegetarians like me. And how to resist dinner with such a beautiful sunset view over the lake?

Aqua CentreThe Aqua Centre's restaurant is an easy option for pizza and other comfort food.

Stunning photos! How great to discover such a place on your doorstep you never knew about. I would love to get into the activities at Natura Parc. Aqua Golf sounds really hard though. I wonder how many balls sit at the bottom of the lake. :)

Hey Vanessa, Belgium looks amazing!! Great travel post! I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to read your book just yet - I do have it on my list. I'm on holiday right now in the Philippines and your book is next on my list. I wish I had a hardcopy of it - maybe I will one day :) Promise to book review it as soon as I'm done! Haven't forgotten xxxx